BBC broadcaster Victoria Derbyshire has revealed she has been diagnosed with breast cancer.
The 46-year-old made her condition public on Twitter, and said that she will undergo a mastectomy in the coming weeks.
Derbyshire said she will continue heading her eponymous BBC Two current affairs programme “as much as possible in the months ahead."
Hi, have been diagnosed with breast cancer & am having a mastectomy in a few wks. Family, friends, work & NHS staff are being brilliant 1/2
— Victoria Derbyshire (@vicderbyshire) August 19, 2015
Will be doing the programme as much as possible during treatment in the months ahead 2/2
— Victoria Derbyshire (@vicderbyshire) August 19, 2015
Fans, colleagues and journalists outside the BBC quickly responded to the award-winning journalist’s news by flooding her with messages of support.
@vicderbyshire I'm thinking of you Victoria and sending best wishes for a speedy recovery. Nx
— Naga Munchetty (@BBCNaga) August 19, 2015
@vicderbyshire wishing you a speedy recovery x
— Sonali Shah (@SonaliShah) August 19, 2015
@vicderbyshire @MRSandell thinking of you and sending you best wishes. Glad you're surrounded by those who love and support you!
— shaimaa khalil BBC (@Shaimaakhalil) August 19, 2015
@vicderbyshire HuffPost UK thinking of you and wishing you the best of luck. Stephen
— Stephen Hull (@stephenbhull) August 19, 2015
@vicderbyshire sorry to hear that Vic - get well soon.
— Matt Smith (@msmith850) August 19, 2015
In my odd professional world, it's occasionally good just to set aside competition & so on: my thoughts & prayers are with @vicderbyshire
— Alastair Stewart (@alstewitn) August 19, 2015
A BBC spokesman said: “We wish Victoria a full and speedy recovery and look forward to having her back full time on the programme as soon as possible.”
Breast cancer is the most common type of cancer in the UK and can be treated if caught early, according to the NHS.
Symptoms can include a lump, a change in size, or dimples on the breast; changes to the nipples including discharge, a rash or inversion; or swelling in either armpit.
Almost 50,000 women were diagnosed with invasive breast cancer in 2011, with eight out of 10 who get the disease aged over 50.
Additional reporting by PA
